Mechanism for withdrawing individual sheets of paper from a stack

ABSTRACT

Mechanism for delivering a sheet from a magazine comprising a resiliently displaceable finger carried on a roller which wipes one edge of the foremost sheet from behind an edge of the magazine to drop into a recess in the roller behind the finger, and a second roller to cooperate with the first roller to grip the sheet edge and pull the sheet from the magazine.

United States Patent Inventor Gustav Heinricy Toronto, Ontario, Canada App]. No. 770,923 Filed Oct. 28, 1968 Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Assignee Canadian Stackpole Limited Priority Nov. 1, 1967 Demnark MECHANISM FOR WITHDRAWING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER FROM A STACK 13 Claims, 10Drawing Figs. US. Cl 271/23, 271/41 Int. Cl B65h 3/02, B650 9/12 Field of Search 271/23, 22, 21, 9, 41

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,814 6/1895 Knowles 271/23 1,122,793 12/1914 Neidich 271/23 1,194,702 8/1916 Bolger 118/212 1,939,193 12/1933 Winkler et al. 271/29 3,375,003 3/1968 Godlewski 271/9 2,318,215 5/1933 Gans 271/41 Primary Examiner-Joseph Wegbreit Att0rneyDouglas S. Johnson ABSTRACT: Mechanism for delivering a sheet from a magazine comprising a resiliently displaceable finger carried on a roller which wipes one edge of the foremost sheet from behind an edge of the magazine to drop into a recess in the roller behind the finger, and a second roller to cooperate with the first roller to grip the sheet edge and pull the sheet from the magazine.

Patenfed March 30, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR GUSTAV HEINRICY BY Bug l; QQW

i "Pa ten ted March ,30, 1971 3,

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented March 30, 1971 3,572,691

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR GUSTAV HEINR BY 9-1. 9

MECHANISM FOR WIT HDRAWING INDIVIDUAL SHEETS OF PAPER FROM A STACK FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a mechanism for withdrawing individual sheets of paper from a stack which is placed in a magazine containing a displaceable bottom section which is advanced, i.e. by the action of a spring in the direction of a discharge opening provided in the end wall of the magazine.

The object of the invention is to manufacture a mechanism by means of which individual sheets of paper, notes or labels may swiftly and safely be withdrawn from a magazine.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION When withdrawing labels for transfer to the labelling device of alabelling machine, it is common to use a glue-carrying withdrawing member to which the labels stick when the withdrawing member touches their back, but this method is rather slow and is liable to involve fouling of the mechanism with glue. Where sheets that are not to be glued are to be withdrawn, suction may be applied, but also this method is rather slow, and the mechanism is rendered costly by the necessary suction pipes with air pump, valves, etc.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION An essential feature of the mechanism according to the invention is that the discharge opening is limited by two opposed side edges spaced a distance apart slightly less than the maximum dimension of the sheets at right angles to the side edges. In addition, a rotatable, driven discharge roller extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of the side edges carries opposite the discharge opening and at its periphery a resilient or spring-activated finger which is capable of bending and is displaceable in a plane at right angles to the axis of the roller and so disposed that at each revolution of the discharge roller the finger is forced towards the discharge opening, the discharge roller having a recess for receiving the finger and a part of each sheet during the withdrawal, whilst a counter roller is so arranged parallelly with the discharge roller and in contact with the periphery of same that the two rollers may cooperate to seize and further convey a partly withdrawn sheet.

During the rotation of the discharge roller the finger swings into the discharge opening of the magazine, bulging the outermost sheet by friction so as to cause it to release the side edge that is leading in the direction of rotation. Owing to the natural rigidity and resilience of the sheet, the released edge portion of the sheet will on the continued rotation of the discharge roller and the spring be passed into the recess provided in the roller behind the spring, and directly thereafter the counter roller and the discharge roller seize the end of the sheet, pulling its other end free from its wedged position between the side edge of the magazine lying last in the direction of rotation of the roller and the next sheet of the magazine. The discharge roller is capable of rotating at great speed, so that the mechanism is, for example, capable of supplying labels for a very rapidly operating labelling machine.

By forming the last-mentioned side edge of the magazine with a suitable curvature making allowance for the rigidity of the sheets, a very reliable control of the sheets is obtainable so as to ensure that the portion first withdrawn escapes into the recess behind the finger and the last portion of the sheet is easily withdrawn'from the magazine. The same may be obtainable with less friction by a guide roller disposed opposite the last-mentioned magazine side edge, by which the withdrawal of the last portion of the label is further facilitated.

To ensure the withdrawal of a comparatively smooth sheet by the finger without subjecting the sheet to excessive pressure, it is convenient that the surface of the finger consists of a frictional material, and it is also advantageous that at least a part of the surface of the counter roller likewise consists of a frictional material, so that the sheets are subjected to adequate pulling force while they are being withdrawn.

The glue mechanism according to the invention is specifically developed with a view to withdraw and give off labels for the adhesive-applying roller of a labelling machine, and a preferred embodiment of such a mechanism is hereinafter described whereby a safe guiding of the labels conveyed from the magazine to the fluid applying roller is obtained without the risk of the labels being wrapped around the discharging roller.

The mechanism according to the invention has the advantage that it can readily, simultaneously, feed labels to a machine which simultaneously provides a container or a bottle with several labels, for example a neck label and a larger label on the body of the bottle.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawing, in which:

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views and top views, respectively, showing an embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention and intended for feeding labels to the glue applying roller of a labelling machine; and

FIGS. 3--10 show the mechanism in various positions while withdrawing a label from the magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION The mechanism illustrated for withdrawing labels consists of two magazines I and 2 for bottle neck labels and bottle body labels. As shown in FIG. 3, each magazine has a displaceable bottom 3 pressed against a stack of labels 5 by a spring 4 so that the foremost label in its smooth condition is resting against side edges 6 and 7 limiting the discharge opening of the magazine.

Opposite the discharge openings of the magazines is a discharge roller 8 rotatable about a vertical axis and having a recess provided with a spring-activated rotatable finger 9 of bendable material opposite each opening.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-10, each finger 9 exerts during the rotation of the roller 8 a pressure against the foremost label of the magazine involved, releasing the said label from the side edge 6 and bending its central part outwards as indicated in FIGS. 4-7, after which the free end of the label now slips into the recess provided in the roller 8 behind the finger 9 (FIGS. 8 and 9), and it is finally pulled on by the eir cumferential surface of the roller 8 and a counter roller 10 cooperating with same. On such part of its circumference as gets into contact with the label the said counter roller is provided with a frictional cover ll of rubber or a suitable plastic material. The finger 9 is made of a corresponding material in order to provide adequate friction between the roller and the label even at a comparatively slight resilience to cause the finger to swing out. The resilience necessary for causing the finger 9 to swing out may be provided by making the bendable finger as such adequately elastic and mounting it between fixed clamping means 12 mounted on the roller, or the finger may be rotatable about a shaft 13 and be acted upon by a torsion bar. The movement of the label while it is being withdrawn may be determined by fonning the side edge 7 with an outwardly curved section. As indicated in FIG. 2 the said outwardly curved section may be substituted by a rotatable guiding roller 14 so as to reduce the frictional forces during the withdrawal.

From the rollers 8 and 10 the labels 5' is passing a guide 15 having ribs extending into grooves provided in the roller 8 to prevent the said roller from being wrapped in the label which is introduced between a squeezing roller 16 and a glue-applying roller 17 of a labelling machine. The said rollers have circumferential ribs with'intermediate tracks, mounted in such manner that the ribs of one roller are opposite the tracks of the other roller so that glue from the glue-applying roller 17 cannot be transferred to the squeezing roller 16. The glue applying roller is fed with glue in known manner by a unit I8, and the label is loosened, likewise in known manner, by means of a deflector member 19 which extends into grooves provided in the glue-applying roller and transfers the label to the rotary labelling device 20, which passes the label to a bottle, affixing it on same.

Although the mechanism is described in the foregoing in connection with a labelling machine, it will be appreciated that the principle of the present invention may be used wherever individual sheets are to be withdrawn from a magazine.

lclaim:

l. A mechanism for withdrawing at high speed individual sheets of resilient paper from a stack located in a magazine having a discharge opening limited by first and second opposed side edges which, to contain the sheets are spaced a distance apart less than the maximum dimension of the sheets at right angles to said edges, said magazine having pressure means bearing said stack against said first and second opposed side edges comprising a driven discharge roller, a finger projecting outwardly of said roller and rotating therewith and so disposed that, on a revolution of the discharge roller, the finger enters said discharge opening to frictionally contact a sheet and to release it from containment from said first side edge, said finger, on further rotation, first flexing the released portion of said sheet into substantially U-form and then releasing said flexed sheet portion whereby the latter. due to its inherent resiliency, recovers into the recess behind said finger and a counter roller, spaced from said discharge opening, adapted to cooperate with the discharge roller periphery located behind said finger to grip said released portion and complete the withdrawal of the sheet by disengagement from said second side edge.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said recess extends into said driven roller.

3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said recess in said driven roller forms an edge with said roller periphery, said edge being spaced from and behind said finger, said edge on revolution of said roller, guiding said recovered sheet portion towards said counter roller.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which spring means are provided to support said finger.

5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said finger is fixedly mounted on said discharge roller.

6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the second side edge has a projecting. outwardly curved section.

7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that a freely rotatable guide roller is provided opposite said second side edge.

8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the surface of the finger consists of a frictional material.

9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that at least a part of the surface of the counter roller consists of a frictional material.

10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said finger is resiliently displaceable in a plane at right angles to said discharge roller.

11. A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said resilient displacement is effected by making said finger of resilient material.

12. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driven discharge roller is on a fixed axis during rotation.

13. A mechanism for withdrawing at high speed individual labels from a stack located in a magazine having a discharge opening limited by first and second opposed side edges spaced a distance apart less than the maximum dimension of the labels at right angles to said side edges to contain said labels comprising means adapted to advance said stack of labels in said magazine and bear said stack against said first and second opposed side edges, a driven discharge roller, a finger projecting outwardly of said roller, rotating therewith and so disposed that on a revolution of the discharge roller the finger enters said discharge opening to frictionally contact a label and release it from containment from said first side edge, said finger, on further rotation first flexing the released portion of sai label into substantially U-form and then releasing said flexed label portion whereby the latter recovers into the recess behind said finger and a counter roller spaced from said discharge opening adapted to cooperate with the discharge roller periphery located behind said finger, to grip said released portion and complete the withdrawal of the label by disengagement from said second side edge. 

1. A mechanism for withdrawing at high speed individual sheets of resilient paper from a stack located in a magazine having a discharge opening limited by first and second opposed side edges which, to contain the sheets are spaced a distance apart less than the maximum dimension of the sheets at right angles to said edges, said magazine having pressure means bearing said stack against said first and second opposed side edges comprising a driven discharge roller, a finger projecting outwardly of said roller and rotating therewith and so disposed that, on a revolution of the discharge roller, the finger enters said discharge opening to frictionally contact a sheet and to release it from containment from said first side edge, said finger, on further rotation, first flexing the released portion of said sheet into substantially U-form and then releasing said flexed sheet portion whereby the latter. due to its inherent resiliency, recovers into the recess behind said finger and a counter roller, spaced from said discharge opening, adapted to cooperate with the discharge roller periphery located behind said finger to grip said released portion and complete the withdrawal of the sheet by disengagement from said second side edge.
 2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said recess extends into said driven roller.
 3. A mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said recess in said driven roller forms an edge with said roller periphery, said edge being spaced from and behind said finger, said edge on revolution of said roller, guiding said recovered sheet portion towards said counter roller.
 4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which spring means are provided to support said finger.
 5. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said finger is fixedly mounted on said discharge roller.
 6. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the second side edge has a projecting, outwardly curved section.
 7. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that a freely rotatable guide roller is provided opposite said second side edge.
 8. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that the surface of the finger consists of a frictional material.
 9. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that at least a part of the surface of the counter roller consists of a frictional material.
 10. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said finger is resiliently displaceable in a plane at right angles to said discharge roller.
 11. A mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein said resilient displacement is effected by making said finger of resilient material.
 12. A mechanism as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said driven discharge roller is on a fixed axis during rotation.
 13. A mechanism for withdrawing at high speed individual labels from a stack located in a magazine having a discharge opening limited by first and second opposed side edges spaced a distance apart less than the maximum dimension of the labels at right angles to said side edges to contain said labels comprising means adapted to advance said stack of labels in said magazine and bear said stack against said first and second opposed side edges, a driven discharge roller, a finger projecting outwardly of said roller, rotating therewith and so disposed that on a revolution of the discharge roller the finger enters said discharge opening to frictionally contact a label and release it from containment from said first side edge, said finger, on further rotation, first flexing the released portion of said label into substantially U-form and then releasing said flexed label portion whereby the latter recovers into the recess behind said finger and a counter roller spaced from said discharge opening adapted to cooperate with the discharge roller periphery located behind said finger, to grip said released portion and complete the withdrawal of the label by disengagement from said second side edge. 